Answering a Video Call Could Hijack Your Android Phone, Researchers Warn

Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a serious exploit chain affecting Android devices that use Unisoc modems, a chipset commonly found in budget and mid-range smartphones. By combining two separate vulnerabilities, attackers can deliver a malicious payload to a target device and gain control of it the moment the victim answers an incoming video call.

What makes this attack particularly concerning is the low level of interaction required from the victim. Unlike many attacks that rely on tricking users into clicking suspicious links or downloading malicious apps, this exploit only requires the target to answer a phone call—an action most people would consider completely routine and safe.

While full technical details of the vulnerabilities have not been disclosed, the discovery highlights how attackers are increasingly finding creative ways to chain multiple smaller flaws together to achieve full device compromise. Businesses that issue staff mobile devices, especially budget Android models, should be aware that hardware-level vulnerabilities like these can exist below the app layer, making them harder to detect and patch.